Variable pitch propeller for aircraft



March 3, 1 942'. H, RElssNER ET A1.

VARIABLE FITCH PROPELLER FOR AIRCRAFT Filed July 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l mwa NTO IE5 5 Fessner Manfred Chrisjrian 12u. ATT y.

'March 3,1942.

H. REISSNER ET AL VARIABLE FITCH PROPELLER FOR'AIRCRAFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1958 MM ATTORNEY- nitely large pitch whenever, transmission o'f the torque from the engine to Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE VARIABLE rrrcn raorELLan Foa AIRCRAFT Hans Reissner, Berlin Manfred Christian,

Germany -Charlottenbllrn 4l-'ld Berlin-Belnickendorf,

Application July 9, 1938,A Serial No. .218,276

In Germany August 27, 1936 (Cl. 17o-164) 15 Claims.

mum pitch adjustment under the influence of the aerodynamic and centrifugal forces acting on the blades.

Another object of the invention is to construct a variable pitch propeller with rotatable. and tiltable blades which are adjusted automatically to their optimum pitch positions without any danger of jamming or jerking, the blade roots. in allpositions of the blades, being practically free of bending stresses.

A specific object oi' the invention is to devise a variable pitch propeller in which an increase of the air thrust adjusts the blades automatically to a reduced pitch while an increase in' engine torque causes an automatic adjustment of the blades to an increased pitch.

Another specific object of the invention is to produce a variable pitch propeller in which the to optimum pitch propeller blades assume automatically an induring flight, the

the propeller is interrupted, whereby the air resistance acting on the blades will not produce any torque o n the propeller shaft. but the blades are automatically readjusted to a smaller pitch as soon as positive torque is transmitted again T from the engine to the propeller. A further object of the invention is to provide a variable pitch propeller having rotatable blades capable of being automatically adjusted to their optimum pitch positions under the influence of the aerodynamic and centrifugal forces acting on the blades and means to counteract the pitch decreasing tendency of the centrifugal couple which acts on each blade during the rotation of the lpropeller.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a variable pitch propeller having blades arranged for automatic pitch adjustment under the influence of the aerodynamic and centrifugal forces acting on the blades and a pilot controlled mechanism for modifying the reaction of the blade to said forces 'so as to vary the condition of equilibrium and, with it, indirectly, the pitch of the blades at will.

Still another object of the invention is to combine, in a variable pitch propeller, rotatable and tiltable blades capable of being automatically adjusted, under predetermined conditions o1' flight, Positions under the influence of the aerodynamic and centrifugal `forces acting on the blades, ify, outside of said predetermined flight conditions, the eiect of said aerodynamic and centrifugal forces on the pitch adjustment of the blades.

The above mentioned and various other objects, which will appear more clearly as the specication proceeds, are accomplished, according to the present invention, by the arrangement and combination ci elements set forth in the following detailed description, defined in the appended claims and illustratively exemplified in y the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic of a variable invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section of a propeller hub with bearings for a propeller blade according to one embodiment of the invention. y

Fig. 3 is a similar elevation partly in section of a second embodiment including a part spherical bearing element.

Fig. 4 is a partial section of a propeller according to the invention including means to counteract the pitch decreasing tendency of the centrifugal couple which acts on the blades.

Fig. 5 is a similar section of still another embodiment of the invention including pilot controlled means for modifying the automatic pitch adjustment, and A perspective part view Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified detail an automatic device for varying pitch adjustment under certain la. A bearing 5 is mounted on the hub of the propeller shaft for rotary movements about an axis 4 fixed with respect to and radial of the propeller axis i, said bearing 5 being rotatable in a plane-.at righttangles tothe radial axis 4. The

propeller blade |00 is secured to the bearing 6 tiltably about only one transverse axis I0 -ex-i with automatic means to mod-v pitch propeller according to the the transverse tilting axis it. 50 denotes the variable angle between the representative chordline iti and an imaginary line 52 extending parallel to the propeller axis, and the predetermined angle between the transverse tilting axis i@ and the chord line iti may bev conveniently defined as the constant difference between the two vari= able angles dii and 5t.

llhe device operates as follows: When the price peller rotates to move the air craft in the direcu tion of the arrow lb, the centrifugal force lil tends to bring the blade le@ into a position in which the centroid line of the blade coincides substantially with the radial axis il. Simultaneously the torque resisting force Eid tends to tilt theeblade it@ backwardly in the direction of prom peller rotation about the transverse tilting .axis le. This tilting movement aords the forwardly acting air thrust 5t a leverage lit about they radial axis d, whereby the blade Hit, under the action of the increasing air thrust, causes a rotary movement of the bearing l and of the transverse tilting axis it about the radial axis i until an equilibrium between the centrifugal force Eil,

said transverse tilt# with respect to the torque resisting force 55 and the air thrust 5S has been attained. During this rotary movement the angles 5l and 5d increase andthe blade is adjusted to a correspondingly smaller pitch angle. If, on the other hand, the torque transmitted from the engine to the propeller increases, the tendency of the blade to assume a more inclined position in the plane of its rotation causes a rotary movement of the bearing E in the opposite direction anda corresponding increase in the pitch of the blade until the resulting increase in forward thrust, which tends to rotate the blade in the direction of pitch decrease, leads to the establishment of a new equilibrium. The amount of adjustment obtained in this manner depends, on the one hand, upon the distance 54 between the propeller axis i and the transverse tilting axis I0 and upon the predetermined angle between said transverse tilting axis l0 and the blade face, as represented by the chordline lili, and, on the other hand, on the magnitude of the air thrust 55 in relation to centrifugal force 5l and torque resistance 5S.

The angular position of the transverse tilting axis 'I0 relative to the blade face and the distance of this axis Il! from the propeller` axis i which for any given condition of ight and any given fuel supplyv will produce the most advantageous blade pitch and propeller speed,J

canbe predetermined by calculation, and the relationship between transverse tilting axis: ld, blade face and propeller axis l can be permanently set to the proper values.

Thus, the distance between the propeller axis andthe transverse tilting axis and the angle between the latter and the blade face may be set to produce a certain predetermined value of blade pitch and propeller speed upon starting of the aeroplane and another predetermined r cooperates with the top of the bearing member value of blade pth air speed of the aeroplane, whereby all intermediate blade pitch-'positions and propeller speeds said two predetermined-f.

will be functions of values.

It should be noted that in the construction described,'the blade root, in all positions of the blade, is practically free of bending stresses, and the automatic pitch adjustment of the blade is effected Without any danger ofu jamming orv jerking.

In the practical embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 2, i denotes the propeller hub. A blade socket 2 is screwed into the hub l and carries an annular bearing element l secured in position by a lock nut 3. A cylindricalmemu ber d is supported by means of ball races and bearing balls on the bearing element l for rotary movements about an axis extending radially o the propeller shaft. The bearing d, 5 thus acts as a thrust bearing for the load exerted on the blade by the centrifugal force. Aliner carrying a transverse hollow pivot pin i is screwed into the cylindrical member Ei. A bearing element l@ is pivotally mounted on the pin l? by means of. ball bearings, and the blade root is screwed into an internally threaded extension socket ogf the bearing element it. The pivot axis of the bearing element i@ coincides with the axis of pin l andconstitutes the transverse tilting axis referred to above in connection with Fig. l. The blade is thus capable of two inde= pendent adjusting movements, viz. a tilting movee ment about the transverse axis without change of pitch, when the bearing element i@ pivots about pin l and the cylindrical member Ei remains stationary, and a rotary movement together with the bearing element i@ and the cylinof the transverse axis from the axis of the propeller shaft can likewise be manually adjusted by screwing the socket 2, and with it the whole unit, into or out of the hub member 2.

In the modied embodiment, illustrated in Fig.

y 3, the propeller hub i and the socket 2 are constructed and arranged in a manner substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 2. In this case,

however, the socket 2 has rigidly mounted therein two spherically curved centrally perforated bearing members Il and l2 which cooperate with similarly shaped bearing members I3 and I4, respectively. The bearing members i3 and Ill 'are rigid with a stepped nut screwed onto an externally threaded extension 9 of the blade root t'. The blade root 8 is provided with a spherically curved bottom portion which rests on and il and serves as an additional bearing element. The bearing members il, i2 on the one hand and d. is and It on the other hand are constructed to slide against one another and to allow the blade free movement in every direction in the manner of a ball joint. However, according to the invention, the blade may carry out, in addition to rotary movements about an axis radial of the propeller axis and coinciding with 'in F18. 4. the mounting i'or each the spherically curved bearing member I4, said tongues engaging transversely extending grooves .in a spherically curved flange I 8a of an annular ilmember I without transmitting to the latter any part of the centrifugal load acting on the blade. An4 external screw thread on the annular member i5 engages an internal screw thread at the inner end of the socket 2 so as to permit easy rotation of the member Ila 2 about the radial axis. Thus, the blade can carry out tilting movements only in the plane ofi the tongue and groove movement about a 'transverse axis indicated by the circle I0 and passing through the common centre of the imaginary concentric spheres according to which the various bearing members are curved, said transverseaxis I 0 being disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the blade face and at a variable angle relative to the propeller axis. In Fig, 3, the blade is shown in a position, in which the transverse axis I0 extends at right angles to the propeller axis. 'I'he distance of the transverse axis I0 from the propeller axis may be manually adjusted by screwing the socket 2 into or out of the hub l and the predetermined angle between the transverse tilting axis i0 and the face of the propeller blade may be .altered by turning the blade root extension 9 in the nut carrying. the bearing member I3, I4.

In theembodime'nt of the invention illustrated propeller blade lcomprises a cylindrical socket 2 screwed into the propeller hub and secured in position by suitable locking means (not shown). The outer end of socket 2 is formed as a convex-concave hemispherical element havingits convex side facing outwardly. The outer convex face of the bearing element 20 cooperates with a concave spherically curved element 2i secured directly and rigidly/to the blade concave with a convex spherically curved bearing element 22 which is screwed on a bolt 24 mounted in the blade root 23 and passing with clearance through a central aperture provided in the top of the bearing element 2l. The parts 2|, 22, 23 and 24 arerigidly secured together to move as a single unit.

The bolt 24 projects inwardly beyond the bearing member 22. and its inner vided with teeth 25 engaging a correspondingly toothed portion of a ring member 25. The ring member 25 straddles, by means of a transverse groove I'la provided therein, a spherically curved rib 15b carried by an annular member i6 easily rotatable in the bottom of the socket 2. The bearing elements 2l, 2| and 22 and the rib I6b arecurvgd on concentric imaginary spheres so i' ,that the transverse tilting axis passes through the common centre of the spheres. The internally toothed ring member 25 is slidable axially of the bolt 24, and it is held in the illustrated position, in which its toothed portion engages the toothed portion of bolt 24 and its groove Ila is engaged by. the rib i522, by means. of a spring 21. Therotary movement of the annular mem- Abei', I5 with respect to the socket 2' is limited by means of a stop screw passing transversely throughA the wall of the socket 2 nearthe bot- Itom thereof and cooperating with two abutments relative to socket root 23, and the inner face of 'the bearing element 20 coacts end portion is pro- 75 just the masses 52, at a predetermined the moment of inertia of the masses 52 about the radial axis coinciding with the cylinder axis of socket 2 is confined to the maximum amount required for the pitch adjustment. One of the abutments 2l serves to stop the blade in -the position of infinitely large pitch which it will assume under the action of the negative air thrust when the engine is shut ofi. duri-ng flight therebypreventing the resistance of the air to the forward movementof the aircraft from exerting a torque on the propeller, while the other abutment 29 stops the blade in its position of smallest eflective pitch.

The automatic pitch adjustment of the blade in an arrangement according to Fig. 4 takes place in the manner described with reference to Fig. l, and the only difference in operation between this embodiment and those illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 is due to the smaller distance of the transverse tilting axis from the propeller shaft.

For manual adjustment of the predetermined angle between the transverse axis and the workaxis and the propeller shaft is effected, as in the, previously described embodiments, by screwing the socket 2 into or out of hub I.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, an auxiliary device serves to counteract the pitch decreasing tendency of the centrifugal couple which acts on each blade during rotation ofthe propeller and to modify the automatic pitch adjustment of the blade. The auxiliary device comprises two governors of identical construction arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the blade, only one of said governors being shown in the drawing. Each governor comprises an angle lever 53 journalled in a bracket 55 carried by `a flange of a sleeve 5| surrounding the root of the blade 23 to swing in a plane including the centroid line of the blade and intersecting the mean chord of all the blade elements at a-predetermined angle which, in the example shown, is 90. The outwardly projecting arm of each angle lever 53 carries a mass 52 and is normally pressed towards the centroid line of the blade by means of a spring 54 which is supported on a second peripheral flange and which acts on the'other arm of the angle lever 53. When the propeller rotates, the centrifugal force urges the masses 52 away from the axis of rotation thereby adjusting the levers 53 against the force of springs 54 to positions in which the masses 52 are at a greater distance from the centroid line of the blade than in the rest position of the propeller. Owing to this arrangement, the masses 52 are capable of counteracting the pitch decreasing tendency of the centrifugal couple acting on the mass of the blade during rotation of the propeller by setting up a second pitch increasing centrifugal couple of a magnitude varying with about upon If the to adnormal the centroid line of the blade in dependence the speed of rotation of thepropeller. governors 50, 52, 52 and 54 are calculated bearing element 2|a forms the bottom of a blade root socket '30 adapted to tightly embrace and securely hold the root of apropeller blade. The inner convex spherically curved bearing element 22 is connected to the socket 3@ by means of a hollow bolt 3|, which extends through an aper- -ture in the bottom 2m of the socket 3d and,

with considerable clearance, through an aperturel in the top-of bearing element Z'El. The outer end of the bolt 3l which projects into the socket 3@ is formed with a head 3 Ha. The bottom of socket 3@ and the head 3m are provided on their sides 'facing eachother with cooperating sets of teeth 3i. extending radially of the axis of bolt ti and preventing angular displacement of the socket 3@ relative to bolt 3| when the two sets of teeth 32 are in engagement with each other. The centrifugal thrust is transmitted to the bearing elements 22, 2@ by means of a ball bearing 33 and a lock nut 34 screwed onto the inner end portion of the bolt 3|, in order to secure the ball bearing 33 in place and to draw the head Bia against the bottom of the socket 3d. The inner end portion or the hollow bolt di is provided with an internal screw thread 3'@ of very steep pitch which is engaged by a corresponding screw thread -on the shank ilc of a tongue shaped guide member lid. The tongue Hd is guided in a'trans` verse slot IE' of a spherically curved` disc idc mounted by means of a nut ld in the bottom of the cylindrical socket@ to be freely rotatable therein labout the axis oi the socket 2 which exf tends radially of the propeller axis. A rod 3l! is screwed into, a 'threaded bore traversing the tongue Hd and its shank |10 and projects thrugh the hollow bolt 3| axially thereof. The rod 3l is guided with a tight t in suitable apertures provided in a transverse web 40 and in the head 3|a of the bolt 3|. and it has rigidly secured thereto a hydraulic piston 4| sldable in the hollow bolt 3|. A spring 42 disposed between the web 40 and the piston 4| urges the latter outwardly.

3'! and, hence, to the space 3|?) between the piston 4| and the head 3io, land a pilot operated control (not shown) permits of increasing or reducing at choice the hydraulic pressure acting on the piston 4 l In the construction according to Fig. 5, the

.normal angle between the blade face and the transverse tilting axis is determined by the angular position of the tongue Hd relative `to the faceof the blade. This angle is set by unscrewon piston di is altered to effect a rotation of A tongue iid whereby the blade pitch is reduced,

A exible tubing serves to supply oil under pressure to a duct 4d provided in the rod If an additional pitch adjustment is to be effected during flight, the hydraulic pressure acting on the piston 4| is adjusted to etlecta displacement of the piston 4|, rod 3l, shank i'lc and tongue Hd longitudinally of the bolt 3i, such displacement causing a rotary movement of the' shank llc and tongue Hd relative to the bolt head 3|a and socket 3U and also to the face of the blade mounted in the latter, owing to the steep pitch screw engagement between the shank 'Hc andthe inner en-d portion of bolt 3l at 36.

to the face of the blade, thereby increasing the pitch to the desired extent.

On the -other hand, the hydraulic pressure on piston di may be reduced to decrease the blade pitch, for instance in order to provide a suitable starting torque. A specific application of the hydraulic control for reduction of the blade pitch is for the purpose of n restarting, during night, without use of a starter, an engine which has been shut off, when the propeller blades have been adjusted automatically to an innitely large pitch. If, in this case, the hydraulic pressure the resistance of the air to the forward movement of the aircraft will exert a torque on the propeller sufficient to restart the engine.

Fig.,6 vshows a modified construction of the hollow bolt tia for automatic variation of the automatic pitch adjustment. In this' case, the rod 3l, which lis vrigidly secured to the shank |`lc of tongue lid, terminates just outside of -the transverse guide web 40 and carries on its outer end a centrifugal weight 38 sldable in the hollow blt 3i and loaded by a spring 39 disposed between the web 40 and the lend of shank Hc mounted in the bolt 3|. The outward stroke of the centrifugal weight 38 is limited by a cap 3io screwed into the head 3|a of the bolt 3|. The spring 39 acting on the shank llc of tongue Hd may be made so strong that throughout the predetermined propeller speed range, within which the blade pitch is automatically adjusted to the optimum pitch positionby the movement of the blade about the radial and transverse axes, the centrifugal weight 38 is held in contact with the web 40 andthe tongue Hd is retained in a xed angular position relative to the bolt 3l and to the face of the blade. If, in this case, the propeller speed exceeds a certain value, due, for instance, to an air speed beyond the control range of the bearing arrangement, the centrifugal weight 38 will gradually move `outwardly against the action of spring 39, thereby axially displacing and turning shank llc and tongue I'Id and with them the slotted disc member |601 relatively Y to thevbolt 3|. This adjustment causes the transverse tilting axis, which extends always at right angles to the slot I6 in the disc |60, to change its angular position with respect tothe face of the blade, the latter being'rigid with bolt 3|, and, as a result, the pitch of the blade will be increased as the bladev tends to retain its inclination under the combined influence of centrifugal force, torque resisting force and air thrust.

n the other hand, the spring 38 may be made so weak that, throughout the propeller speed range within which the automatic pitch adjust ment of the blade is satisfactorily accomplished by the rotary and tilting movements of the blade about the radial and transverse axes, respectively, the centrifugal weight will always be retained at the outer limit of its stroke where it abuts against the cap 3| c in the head Ila and will only move inwardly against the action of the centrifugal force if the engine speed falls below the normal range. The centrifugal weight 38 moving inwardly will, then, impart to the tongue lld, and, thence, to the transverse axis aturning movement which causes a sufficient reduction in the pitch of the blade rto raise the engine speed 'to normal, or, at least, to prevent the engine from slowing down too far.

If desired, the spring 39 may also be calculated to produce an action which varies in different stages of the adjustment range of the spring, or which, in Iterms of graphic representation, is not linear; this may be accomplished by designing the spring with cone shaped turns or turns of different pitch, or by providing several cooperating springs. If the spring characteristics are not linear, blade pitch and propeller speed s values may be predetermined for any desired number of flight conditions.

It will be understood that, while reference has been made to 'one blade only in the preceding description of specific embodiments of the invention, the same principles wilLapply' to any number of blades with which a propeller may be provided, a partial indication of a second blade being contained in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

Iclaim: l

l. A variable pitch propeller for'aircraft, comprising a hub, a plurality of blades, bearing means for each blade including a thrust bearying mounted on said hub and supporting the blade for rotary movements about an yaxis nxed with respect to and radial of said hub, and a Y pivot bearing cooperating with said thrust bearing and permitting movements of the blade with- `out change of pitch about only one transverse axis extending at substantially right angles to the centroid line of the blade and at substantially right angles to said radial axis land being spaced a predetermined distance from the axis of the hub, said pivot bearing being freely turnable with respect to the hub about said radial axis, said blades being constructed and arranged to cause rotary movements of said pivot bearing =about said radial axis under the influence of aerodynamic and centrifugal forces, and connecting means between each pivot bearing and -blade determining the angle of the blade face relative to the transverse tilting axis of the blade.

2. A variable pitch propeller, as claimed in' claim 1, in which. said connecting means are adapted to retain each blade normally at a selected fixed angle relative to its transverse tilting axis.

3. A variable pitch propeller, as claimed in claim 1, comprising means to change the angle between each blade and its transverse tilting axis during flight,

4. A variable pitch propeller, as claimed in claim 1, comprising governor means including a centrifugal element and a spring to automatically change the angle between each blade and its transverse tilting axis during flight in dependence upon the number of revolutions of the propeller.

5. A variable v prising a hub, a plurality of blades, and, for each blade, a bearing including a part-spherical bearv ing element mounted on said hub with its axis extending radially of the latter.' a second partspherical bearing element concentric with and engaging said first bearing. element for rotary movements about said .radial axis and, independently of said rotary movements for tilting movements with respect to said radial axis, means connecting said second bearing element with the blade root and including a guide member extending in a plane containing said radial axis, and a guide element mounted on said first bearing element for rotation about said radial axis and for cooperation with said guide member to limit said second'bearing element and blade to tilting movements about only one transverse axis extending at right angles to said radial axis and at a predetermined distance from the axis of the hub, said blades being constructed and arranged to cause rotation of said guide element relative to said first bearing element under the influence of aerodynamic and centrifugal forces.

7. A variable pitch propeller. as claimed in claim 6, in which said connecting means between said second bearing and blade root includes two serrated members releasably 'engaging one another in any desired angular position.

8. A variable pitch propeller, as claimed in claim 6, in which said guide member and guide element include a tongue and groove arrangement.

9. A variable pitch propeller, as claimed in claim 6, vin which said connecting means between said second bearing and blade root includes a bolt extending with considerable clearance through an axial opening of said ilrst bearing element, said guide member being carried by the inner end of said bolt.

10. A variable pitch propeller, as claimed in claim 6, in which said connecting means between said second bearing element and blade includes a hollow bolt extending with considerable clearance through an axial opening of said first bearing element, a steep pitch internal screw thread on the inner end of said bolt, an externally screw into the internal screw thread of said bolt, and means for causing an axial displacement of said guide member with respect to said bolt to effect relative rotation.

1l. A variable pitch propeller, as claimed in claim 6, in which said connecting means between said second bearing element and blade includes a hollow bolt extending with considerable clearance through an axial opening in said first bearing element, a steep pitch internal screw thread on the inner end of said bolt, an externally screw threaded projection on said guide member -tted into the internal screw thread of said bolt, a centrifugal weight slidable in said hollow bolt and connected with said guide member, anda spring urging said centrifugal weight towards the inner end of said bolt.

12. A variable pitch propeller, as claimed in claim 6, in which said connecting means between said second bearing element and blade includes i pitch propeller, as claimed in claim l, comprising means including a hydraulic' a hollow bolt extendingr with considerable clearance through an axial opening in said nrst bearing element, a steep pitch internal screw thread on the inner end of said bolt, an externally screw threaded projection on said guide memberv iitted into the internal screw. thread of said bolt, a hydraulic spring pressed piston slidable in said bolt and connected with said guide member, and means lto supply a pressure liquid to the interior of sald bolt for axial displacement of said piston each blade, of at least one additional mass, means` to hingedly support said mass wholly on said blade ior rotary movements therewith as the blade pitch changes and for swinging movements towards and away from the centroid line of the latter blade in a plane intersecting the mean chord of all the blade elements at a predetermined angle to permit said mass of counteracting the pitch decreasing tendency of the centrifugal couple which acts on the blade during rotation of the propeller, and resilient means holding said mass normallyat-'afpredetermined A distance from said centroid line, whereby the moment of inertia of said mass about said centroid line varies in dependence upon the speed of rotation of the propeller.

l5. In a variable pitch propeller having a hub and aplurality of blades, the combination, for each blade, of two additional masses, means to hinge said masses symmetrically to opposite sides f of said blade for swinging movements towards and away from the centroid line of the latter in a common plane intersecting the mean chord of all the blade elements at substantially right angles, and resilient.l means holding said' masses normally at a predetermined distance from said centroid line whereby the pitch decreasing tend-v ency of the centrifugal couple, which acts on each blade duringrotation of the propeller, is counteracted by said masses to an extent varying in dependence upon the speed of rotation of the propeller. v

HANS REISSNER. MANFRED CHRISTIAN. 

